Tuesday, Nov 19, 2013
Abu Dhabi: Grade 12 pupils at Indian schools in the capital said on Tuesday their joy and relief over an official clarification last week that they did not need to study “compulsory Arabic” were short-lived.
They said although the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec),the school regulator in the emirate, said in an official statement issued to Gulf News that Arabic was compulsory up to grade 10 only, the Indian schools were continuing their compulsory Arabic classes for grades 11 and 12.
“I was delighted to read the news that we don’t need to start studying Arabic at this last minute. But it was short-lived,” a grade 12 pupil at Abu Dhabi Indian School (Adis) told Gulf News yesterday.
“The school says Adec has made Arabic mandatory from this academic year; but nobody explains why this has been introduced halfway thorough the academic year when only about three months are left for final exams!” the pupil said.
As Gulf News reported on November 11 and 12, grade 12 pupils were overburdened with the introduction of Arabic as a compulsory paper halfway through the academic year in mid-October.
They were told to prepare for an Arabic exam to be conducted by UAE authorities in February 2014. Most of the pupils in grade 12 this year did not study Arabic in grade 11 last year as it was optional and there was no information about making it compulsory this year since the academic year began in April.
However Adec clarified that Arabic language is considered optional in grades 11 and 12 for Arab and non-Arab pupils. But Adec made it clear that it is important to note that if a pupil is seeking a UAE diploma [after grade 12] he or she has to study Arabic up to grade 12.
Adec’s clarification proved that there was confusion among Indian schools about the Adec regulation on Arabic teaching and schools have misread the regulation.
But Adec has not revealed any action against the schools, which misinterpreted the regulation and overburdened the pupils during the end of their academic year.
A parent of a grade 12 pupil at St Joseph’s School said the school told him it would continue with “compulsory Arabic”. “But I don’t understand why they [schools] claim that Adec made this rule only for Indian curriculum schools. We have not heard of anything like this for British or American schools in the capital,” he said.
Another parent said her daughter had to spend around Dh40 on taxi fares to attend the extra Arabic classes last Saturday because St. Joseph’s School does not provide transportation for extra classes. “It is inconvenient for children,” she said.
A parent of a grade 12 pupil at Sunrise English Private School said his son would be in trouble if the school does not follow the Adec clarification that Arabic is not compulsory.
“He is already worried about certain reports from India saying that their board exams may be held in February, one month earlier than originally scheduled. He is already stressed about preparation for other papers,” the parent said. Parents and pupils requested anonymity fearing reprisal from schools. The schools did not comment yesterday.
By Binsal Abdul Kader Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
